Over 20 held in child porn probe

FIA Cybercrime Wing arrests suspects from several cities in Punjab

LAHORE:

More than 20 people suspected of being involved in child pornography have been arrested in several cities of Punjab, including Lahore.

According to sources in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Wing, it was revealed during an investigation that millions of rupees are being earned in various cities of Punjab through child pornography, video streaming and blackmailing.

Official of the FIA wing arrested more than 20 people from Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Rawalpindi during an operation launched against persons involved in child pornography and molestation in Punjab.

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Indecent videos and photos of children, women and men, aphrodisiacs and equipment were seized from the arrested persons.

The source said a large number of people connected to a social media app linked to homosexuality had been traced in different cities of the province.

Apps promoting child pornography were also traced.

Members of a group involved in broadcasting pornographic content live through a social media application were arrested.

The arrested suspects include Naveed, Anwar, Asad, Imran, Tanveer, Iftikhar, Waheedr, Nadeem and Qasim.

It was revealed during the investigation that children were befriended while playing an online game, after which their indecent video clips were recorded by luring them.

Students of various private colleges and universities in Lahore, Gujrat and Multan were lured to join the groups using tactics like private parties, group study and modelling.

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An official said the victims were shown films about promiscuity and persuaded that it was not an illegal or indecent act but art, which could help them earn hefty amounts.

According to the FIA sources, many of the victims’ families were not cooperating in the investigations due to the fear of defamation and threats of blackmail.

Some persons had filed complaints but not appeared during the investigation after the FIA started legal action.

FIA officials said a number of websites involved in illegal activities had been blocked with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) cooperation.

They said the investigations had indicated that poor economic conditions and unemployment had forced several women and men, including students, in the immoral activities, while millions of rupees had been extorted by blackmailers involved in the crimes.

An official said the FIA Cybercrime Wing had received 192 complaints related to the issue, into which investigations had been undertaken.

Some families had withdrawn their applications submitted to the FIA, apparently fearing social stigma.

On the other hand, a number of complainants stopped cooperating with the FIA, due to which the investigations were stalled, the official complained.